The Pro-Choice Argument

In the United States in this day and age, it's a little surprising for me to discover that there are still so many conservative people. I am aware that the world has already drastically changed from what it had been a century ago, and for the most part, I feel the change has been for the better. However, whenever I enter a conversation on abortion, I seem to encounter a vast majority of pro-life people who claim that abortion is definitely wrong, and should not be allowed for women; surprisingly, these are also women who are arguing this. I already know that part of it has to do with religion - a lot of people believe in God, and feel it is wrong to destroy something He has created. Other people say that it's wrong to ruin a life, regardless of religion. I feel I am one of the few people in this world who is actually pro-choice.

First of all, I do want to mention that I do not believe that abortion should be taken lightly. I feel that it should really only be used by rape victims or those who do not have the proper means to take care of a child, and not in the place of a contraceptive. Although there really is no way to ensure that all the women receiving abortions are in such a situation, the financial burden is definitely not something that many people can afford easily. The cost of a box of condoms or female birth control seems hardly anything compared to the price an abortion can cost.

I agree that the abortion should take place within the first trimester of pregnancy. During these stages, there is barely a fetus, and in my opinion, although a fetus is a living thing, it doesn't constitute as a complete being since it is not developed enough to have feelings, a gender, or live independently. Once the first trimester has passed, however, it is arguable that the baby can start to feel things and recognize voices, so a great amount of development has occurred, arguably making it more of a human than a, for lack of a better term, "thing."

Since women are the only humans who are able to bear children, the burden automatically falls upon them to have to deal with the stress of pregnancy. I do appreciate having men on this earth, but in all honesty, until they can carry a child for nine months, they will never know how much pain women go through just by being a female. Aside from the hassle of a monthly menstrual cycle, women are also the ones who have the most at stake when deciding if a baby is appropriate for them. From walking past the shouting picketers outside of a Planned Parenthood to facing the discomfort of engorgement that comes along with a newborn, pregnancy definitely takes more of a toll on females than on males. If a woman has to deal with all the hassles of carrying the baby, why can she not also decide what is right for her body at the time? If a male impregnates a woman, he can easily detach himself from her and the child; he doesn't have to bear the child nor does he have the same maternal instincts that often rise in women upon having babies. It is unfair to think that a man does not have to be quite as careful as a woman during sex just because he lacks the necessary body parts to produce a child. Forcing all pregnant women to have babies automatically puts the emotional, physical, and financial strain on the females of the world. Maternal attachments aside, the fetus is physically within the woman's body, so she is unable to just walk away from a pregnancy while a male can literally do so.

Is it right to really force all women to have babies even if they aren't ready for them? The solution many people pose is that unplanned children can always be put up for adoption. Although this is definitely an option, is it really healthy for these children to grow up without having a family for an indefinite period of time? To automatically be sent to live in a foster home as an infant does not seem more caring, but rather cold and heartless; to force the pregnant women to take care of their own children might produce an unhealthy household or an abusive parent, forcing many women to struggle with added finances and worries. The women who just do not have the time or money to take care of their children might end up neglecting them or abusing them; some might even feel bitter towards their children for changing their lives. Forcing "unwanted" children to live for an extended period of time without a true home, or without a loving parent is not healthy physically, mentally, or emotionally for children, especially since the developmental phases of a child's life are so crucial to his or her growth.

I know hearing these things might seem cold, unjust, or even angering, but just as many people have their rights to believe that abortion is wrong, I do have the right to feel that abortion should be a woman's decision. I ultimately believe that the best way to prevent an unwanted child is to abstain from sexual intercourse, but there is no way to prevent all the youths in this world from engaging in it, and even those who might be considered old enough to handle a child might not feel they are ready for such a change in their life. I reiterate that I don't feel abortion should be done at the bat of an eyelash. Keep in mind that often, those who have abortions battle with themselves over the idea of destroying a life, but ultimately do it for the better good, not only for their own lives, but for the lives of the potential child.